The Continental Shelf

The continental shelf was the first maritime zone to be proclaimed by Australia, in 1953. This chapter explores the development of the doctrine of the continental shelf in the law of the sea, the physical characteristics of Australia’s continental shelf, and Australia’s submission of its continental shelf limits to the Commission on the Limits on the Continental Shelf. It also provides an overview of the key features of the Commonwealth and state legislation which regulate activities on the Australian continental shelf including the oil and gas industry, fisheries and greenhouse gas sequestration. As with other areas of Australian coastal and marine law, the legislative regime applicable to the Australian continental shelf is complex, and reflects the cooperative approach taken in regulating other offshore issues by the Commonwealth and the States and Territories under the terms of the Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS). It is suggested that there is a case for streamlining the legislative scheme to address contemporary continental shelf issues more clearly and effectively